Independent

Rail Vacations

Self Drive

New Zealand - Rail Vacations

Explore New Zealand’s extraordinary diverse landscapes from the comfort of world class carriages New Zealand rail providers have to offer. These rail journeys include spectacular scenery that you cannot see from the road, from magnificent alpine mountains to the rolling green farm lands, from coastal passages to the rocky volcanoes of the North Island.

Explore the Beauty of the South Island. This itinerary will introduce you to a wide variety of activities like kayaking in the Abel Tasman, Taking the Tranz Coastal Train, Visiting the Pancake Rocks, Walking the base of a glacier, Taking a cruise through Milford Sound.

Experience the diversity this stunning country has to offer. From cruising through the Bay of Islands, visiting glow worm caves, enjoying a traditional Maori feast in the North Island to riding the Coastal Pacific & TranzAlpine trains, sighting penguins in Dunedin and cruising Milford Sound in the South Island. This inclusive itinerary provides all the main highlights of New Zealand. It also allows free time to choose from a wide range of activities that suit your interest.

Visit all the highlights of the South Island by this package designed to give you time to explore on your own, while it includes all of the major highlights. Take the train through the famous Arthurs Pass, take a cruise on Milford Sound and walk the base of the Franz Josef Glacier.

Abel Tasman

Abel Tasman National Park is New Zealand's smallest national park - but it's perfectly formed for relaxation and adventure. A coastal paradise that you can walk through or explore by cruise boat, sailing catamaran, water taxi or sea kayak, visitors love the way the Abel Tasman National Park mixes physical exertion with beach life. Bursts of hiking or paddling are punctuated by sun bathing, swimming and sedate snorkeling.

Auckland

Auckland is New Zealand's largest city and main transport hub. Imagine an urban environment where everyone lives within half an hour of beautiful beaches, hiking trails and a dozen enchanting holiday islands. Add a sunny climate, a background rhythm of Polynesian culture and a passion for outstanding food, wine and shopping.

Bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands is a subtropical micro-region known for its stunning beauty & history. For those that love beaches and water activities, it's paradise. A three hour drive or 35 minute flight north of Auckland, the Bay of Islands encompasses 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula and includes the boutique towns of Opua, Paihia, Russell and Kerikeri.

Christchurch & Canterbury

Christchurch, New Zealand is interwoven by two rivers linking parks, gardens and avenues. Bordered by the Port Hills and the Pacific Ocean, it is situated on the Canterbury Plains with the Southern Alps as a majestic backdrop. Funky Christchurch city and the vast Canterbury region have plenty to keep you busy, whether you're a shopaholic, wild adventurer or history buff.

Coromandel

The Coromandel, with its pristine beaches, native forests and laid-back vibe, is one of New Zealand’s most popular and best-loved holiday destinations. A binocular’s view across the gulf from Auckland, the Coromandel is everything that a big city isn’t. Cloaked in native rainforest with dazzling white sand beaches, it is rustic, unspoiled and relaxed.

Dunedin

Known as the Edinburgh of New Zealand, Dunedin is the country's city of the south, wearing its Scottish heritage with pride. Surrounded by dramatic hills and at the foot of a long, picturesque harbour, Dunedin is one of the best-preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere. The accommodation is good and plentiful; the nightlife buzzes with funky bars and delicious restaurants and the natural attractions are unique and fascinating.

Hawkes Bay

Hawke’s Bay is one of New Zealand’s warmest, driest regions and this has made it one of the country’s leading producers of wine; notably red wines – cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah – but also with some quite stunning whites. The region is the first stop on the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail, and it's a popular place for bicycle wine tours.

Marlborough

Located at the top of the South Island, Marlborough is New Zealand’s largest wine growing region and the home of world-renowned sauvignon blanc. Marlborough enjoys high sunshine hours and a temperate climate so that visitors can experience all of Marlborough’s diversity through the season. No matter what time of year, there is always something going on in Marlborough, New Zealand.

Nelson

Nelson is a lifestyle; that’s the best way to describe it. Situated at the top north-west of the South Island, it is the sunniest region in New Zealand. Perhaps it’s the sun, perhaps it’s the location, but Nelson, New Zealand, has long been a magnet for creative people. There are more than 350 working artists and craftspeople living in Nelson, traditional, contemporary and Maori. Visit their studios and find a unique piece to take home with you.

Queenstown

Captivated by the majestic beauty of the surrounding mountains and rivers, it’s rumored that gold prospectors gave this now cosmopolitan town its name. Queenstown sits on the shore of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu among dramatic alpine ranges. World famous for its iconic scenery, friendly people, golf courses, wineries and smorgasbord of outdoor activities, you'll never be short of things to do in Queenstown.

Rotorua

Sitting within the Pacific Rim of Fire, Rotorua is a geothermal wonderland with bubbling mud pools, clouds of steam, and natural hot springs perfect for bathing and relaxing in. After marvelling at the distinctive landscapes and volcanic activity within a geothermal park, enjoy a simple soak in a natural hot stream or indulge in a wellness getaway at a luxurious spa.

Stewart Island

Stewart Island is New Zealand's third largest island, situated 30 kilometers south of the South Island, across the Foveaux Straight. In the Māori language, it’s known as Rakiura which means ‘the land of glowing skies’. The Aurora Australis which often appears in these southern skies will show inkling why.

Taupo

Taupo was created nearly two thousand years ago by a volcanic eruption so big it darkened the skies in Europe and China. Visit the Craters of the Moon and you'll see evidence of the lake's fiery birth in the geysers, steaming craters and boiling mud pools. At some of Lake Taupo's beaches, swimmers and paddlers can enjoy warm, geothermal water currents.

wellington

Nestled between a sparkling harbor and rolling green hills, New Zealand's capital city is renowned for its arts, heritage, culture and native beauty. Wellington buzzes with delicatessens, cafes and restaurants – it’s a city that enjoys gourmet food and fine wine. Known as the culinary capital of New Zealand, Wellington is famous for its tucked-away bars, quirky cafes, award-winning restaurants and great coffee.

West Coast

The West Coast, or ‘the Coast’ as locals call it, is a wild place of rivers and rainforests, glaciers and geological treasures.
Never more than 50 kilometres wide, the whole stretch down the West Coast of the South Island - of which Greymouth is the largest town - is home to only 31,000 people.
It’s good if you’ve got your own transport because this is a long region and there’s a lot to see. In fact, the Great Coast Road stretching from Westport to Greymouth was recently voted one of the top 10 coastal drives in the world by Lonely Planet.

Journey with TranzAlpine

The TranzAlpine scenic train journeys between Christchurch and Greymouth, crossing from one coast of New Zealand to the other. Climb aboard one of the world’s most scenic train journeys. Cross the fertile farmlands of the Canterbury Plains, and enjoy thrilling vistas over deep gorges as you travel alongside the ice-fed Waimakariri River. Traverse the mighty Southern Alps, where spectacular views of the chiselled alpine landscape will take your breath away at every turn. After stopping at Arthur’s Pass, emerge from the long Otira Tunnel and descend through sub-tropical rainforest past beautiful Lake Brunner and on to Greymouth which is a great base for exploring this unspoiled region with its mighty glaciers, wild rivers and famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks. You will enjoy all this in the comfort of new world-class carriages featuring huge panoramic windows, an onboard licensed café with a range of delicious Kiwi flavours, and GPS triggered at-seat audio commentary. For a breath of fresh Alpine air, step out onto the open air viewing carriage where nothing gets between your camera and the stunning scenery.

The TranzAlpine runs a daily return service between Christchurch and Greymouth throughout the year. This is truly an unforgettable journey which makes is possible for you to experience the unrivalled beauty of the Southern Alps.

Northern explore

Linking New Zealand’s commercial and political capitals, Auckland and Wellington, the Northern Explorer provides a unique opportunity to discover the North Island’s diverse range of scenery in one voyage. Travel through rolling green farmland and virgin bush, past quaint country towns and along rocky coasts. The journey through Tongariro National Park, with its three spectacular volcanic mountains, Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu, is just one of the highlights. This is a place of extremes and surprises, where snow-blanketed fields, ancient lava flows and dense beech forests can be seen side-by-side.

Coastal Pacific

The Coastal Pacific train travels between Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city, and the delightful port of Picton, gateway to the Marlborough Sounds and South Island port of the Interislander Ferry. This journey is a scenic feast with views of the picturesque Kaikoura mountain ranges on one side of the train contrasting with the rugged scenery of the Pacific Ocean coastline on the other. The Coastal Pacific passes through the town of Kaikoura, where it is possible to break the

journey to whale-watch or swim with dolphins. Travel through some of New Zealand’s finest farmland and see endearing wildlife such as dolphins, seals and penguins from the comfort of the train carriage.